Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and 54 other attorneys general have reached a $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family over their role in fueling the opioid crisis.
The agreement, which includes all eligible states and U.S. territories, marks the nation’s largest settlement to date with individuals responsible for the “opioid epidemic.”
The settlement ends the Sacklers’ control of Purdue and their ability to sell opioids in the United States. Communities nationwide will receive funds over 15 years to support addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery programs.
“No person or company, no matter how powerful, is above the law. Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family fueled an opioid epidemic that devastated Texas families and communities,” said Attorney General Paxton. “This $7.4 billion settlement is a major victory in our ongoing fight to ensure Big Pharma pays for the damage it caused and to bring justice to the people of Texas.”
Texas state and local governments will receive up to $286.6 million over the next 15 years. Most settlement funds will be distributed within the first three years.
The Sacklers will pay $1.5 billion initially, while Purdue contributes roughly $900 million. Additional payments include $500 million after one year, another $500 million after two years, and $400 million after three years.
Under the Sacklers’ ownership, Purdue aggressively marketed opioid products for decades. The settlement resolves legal claims from state and local governments, though local government participation remains contingent on bankruptcy court approval.
This latest agreement brings Texas’s total opioid-related settlements to nearly $3.3 billion. Attorney General Paxton has secured these funds from multiple companies that contributed to the epidemic.